All childcare offers key benefits for your child, but which is the right choice for you? There are lots of differences between different types of childcare, early education or pre-school services and also between individual childminders, nurseries, nursery classes or out of school clubs. Try and give yourself enough time to visit several possible options in your area to get a good idea about what would suit your child.
The following childcare options are available:
Childminders
Look after children on domestic premises usually in the childminder's own home. They are registered with OFSTED and inspected every year.
Pre-School Playgroups
Pre-school playgroups provide early years education and sessional care (usually about 2.5 to 3 hours per session) for children up to the age of five. Some playgroups offer a variety of sessional, extended day care and full day care.
Day Nurseries
Day Nurseries provide care and education for children from as young as 6 weeks old until your child is ready to go to school. There are different kinds of day nurseries - privately run, community, council or workplace - but they must all be registered and regularly inspected by OFSTED, and have to comply with strict guidelines on staff/children ratios.
Out of School Care
Primary age children and some secondary age children often need care after school and in the school holidays. Out of School clubs are often based on school premises, or occasionally in a day nursery. The children are collected from schools and taken to the club by the child carer. All children should be signed in and out again at the end of the session.
Nannies
A nanny is someone you employ to look after your child in your home. Nannies do not need to have childcare qualifications, but many have nursery nurse training or other qualifications in childcare. There is no national nanny register and, unless they are looking after children for more than two families, they do not need to be registered with OFSTED.
Maintained Nurseries
Maintained nurseries are attached to primary schools and only open during the school term. Some will provide 'wrap-around' care which covers before and after school and during school holidays. All maintained nurseries are regulated and monitored by OFSTED as part of the primary school inspection.
Once your child is three, the term after their third birthday, they are eligible for a free part-time nursery place. This will help you with the cost of childcare. Alternatively, there is help in the form of Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. Please contact the Inland Revenue Tax Credits Helpline on 0845 300 3900 or look at their website.
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